Device for raising sunken ships.



0. J. D. MANEVAL.

DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. 1915.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

7. v y f 4 aim/a e M 'IIIII/III/II/II/ OSCAR J. D. MANEVAL, OF IiYNDEN, WASHINGTON.

DEVICE F03 RAISING SUN KEN SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Sept. 19, 1916..

Application filed July 9, 1915. Serial no. 38,958.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR J. D. MANEVAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynden, in the county of Whatcom, State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Raising Sunken Ships; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whlch it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for raising sunken ships.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple device by means of which a sunken ship can be readily located and a grapple engaged with the ship so that the same can be pulled to the surface.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanylng drawing.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a sunken ship, with my invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the drum, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the drum and attached parts, Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the grappling hook engaged with the member carried by the sunken ship, Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the parts shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents the deck of a sunken vessel and 11 the hold. In the deck is countersunk a plate 12 having a countersunk opening 13 formed therein. In the deck, below this opening is formed an opening 14. Extending vertically through this opening is a stem 15, the lower end of which is formed with a large counter-balancing weight 16. Formed on this stem above the plate is an enlargement 17 above which is a reduced neck 18 surmounted by an enlarged head 19. Formed vertically through the enlargement, the stem and the weight are two openings 20, through which are passed the two cables 21. Mounted on the lower side of the weight 16 are three guiding rollers 22 between which the lower ends of the cables pass.

In the hold of the ship is mounted a frame 23'which supports a shaft 24 carrying a winding drum 25. In this drumare mounted two grooved rollers 26, and engaged under these two rollers is the intermediate portion of the cable of which the cables 21 are the ends. Pivotally mounted in the frame 23, adjacent the roller, is a springpressed guiding and tensioning device 25' for insuring the proper and even winding of the cable.

Pivotally mounted in the frame 23 is a lever 44, the outer end of which is supported by the spring 45. Passing over one end of the drum, and secured at one end to the frame, and at the other end to the lever, is a strap brake 46.

Connected to the outer ends of the cable 21 is a ring 27 carrying a chain 28 having a clevis 29 attached thereto. Connected to this clevis is a float 30 which carries a second cable 31 connected to the cables 21 and by means of which said cables may be easily and quickly reached for the application of the grapple which will now be described.

A grapple is used for engagement with the head 19. This grapple includes a block 32 through which is formed a longitudinal bore 33. On the upper end of the block is a bail 34 carrying a ring 35 for the attach ment of a cable (not shown) which is carried by the rescue ship and by means of which the sunken ship is raised.

Pivotally mounted on the sides of the block are the levers 37, the lower ends of which are provided with the inwardly directed hooks 38 adapted to embracev the head 19 and to engage under the shoulder formed therebelow. The upper ends of the levers are provided with pulleys 39 through which is passed a cable 40 having a ring 41 for attachment of a cord 42. An upward pull on this cord will swing the levers on their pivots so as to spread the hooks apart, the hooks being returned to normal engaging position by the springs 43.

In the operation of the device, when the ship is about to sink the float is released. When the ship sinks, the float will rise to the surface of the water, unwinding the cables from the drum as it rises. The float indicates, to the, salvaging ship, the position of the sunken ship. The float is pulled up and the cables passed through the grapple, after which the grapple is permitted to slide down the cables until its hooks engage under the head 19. It Will, of course be unreception of the bight portion of the cable derstood that the grapple has a cable atthereunder, and a float carried by the ends tached thereto so that the sunken ship can of the cable.

be pulled up. In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa- 5 What is claimed is: ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

In a device for indicating the position of OSCAR J D MANEVAL a sunken ship, a drum mounted in the ship,

a single length of cable, said drum having Witnesses:

a longitudinal slot formed therein, a pair of FANNm M. JENKINS, 10 grooved rollers mounted in the slot for the PEARL TUCKER.

Copiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.? 

